Help My Unbelief Series

Title: Help My Unbelief

Opening Text: Mark 9:14 – 24

Introduction

Isa 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

This passage here is on the cusp of one of the most revealing moments in scripture. Jesus had promised His disciples that they would see “power of the kingdom of God present with power”. Over this chapter this is what they see. They see the kingdom of God. Both parts. The heavenly part shown in the appearance of Elijah and Moses. In it you hear the voice of the Father identifying the Son. This is “My Son”. You will see more of the power of the kingdom in the next passage as Jesus shows power over demons.

Peter didn’t know what to do. So Peter had a philosophy, “What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Talk. Make something up.” He wanted to erect three tabernacles one for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Advice: When you are in the presence of God and you are not sure what to do next just be quiet and enjoy His presence. You don’t always have to do something, you don’t always have to “have a word”.

Thankfully God ignores Peter’s ignorance. Now to Peter’s credit I understand. I want to stay in His presence. I want to be where God is moving and touching. I love the emotional side of the kingdom. I feel good, I feel connected. I feel as though I have a purpose.

Yet there is the practical side. You cannot always stay on the mountain. You have to move on. There is ministry to be done. Also, to give you a secret, “there is purpose in the mountain”. You are going to need those mountain top experiences when you get to the valley.

That is where Jesus find himself next. In the valley.

There is oftentimes darkness and doubt in the valley. There are a lot of questions in the valley. David understood this when he wrote Psalms 23.

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

It is dark. Yet I don’t have to be afraid while being in the dark valley because you are with me.

In these verses Jesus finds himself in the middle of a dispute. So He inquires.

Mark 9:16 And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?" (17) Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.

This man had connected Jesus disciples with Him. Even though Jesus was on the mountain top in this fathers mind the disciples represented Jesus. When he brought the boy to them it was as if bringing him to Jesus. Note: we represent Jesus where ever we go. We represent Jesus to our family, to our friends, on our job.

(18) And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."

I could hear the emphasis in this statement. “I spoke to YOUR disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

(19) He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."

This is a matter of rebuke because of a “faithless generation”. Jesus was not going to always be with them. He tells His disciples this all the time. He is teaching them to depend on God and their relationship with God instead of Jesus doing all the work. We are to be instruments of faith.

“bear with you”. Have patience for you? God is longsuffering, but He expects us to grow.

But in the same note of the rebuke there is light of hope. “Bring him to Me”. We can bring people to Jesus. To church to events into His presence. Hey even to baptisms.

(20) Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. (21) So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. (22) And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."